DLNews Home & Family:

Every morning, tucked away in a cozy workshop in the Coachella Valley, the delightful sounds of sawing, sanding, painting, and joyful laughter signal another magical day at Mike and Judy Sullivan’s wooden wonderland. Now gracefully navigating their 70s, this retired dynamic duo has spent over a decade handcrafting charming, old-fashioned wooden toys that bring smiles brighter than holiday lights to thousands of children each year.

It all began in 2013 when Mike and Judy, inspired by the pure delight their homemade wooden creations brought their grandchildren, decided to spread that same joy to families needing extra support. That first Christmas, more than 800 whimsical wooden trucks, cars, planes, and enchanting doll cradles filled local homes with holiday cheer, and their heartfelt tradition grew from there.

Link to Gofund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/retired-couples-labor-of-love-wooden-toys-for-kids

By 2023, the Sullivan workshop proudly gifted over 2,000 lovingly made wooden toys to charities, churches, and deserving families. Mike meticulously cuts, shapes, and sands each toy with his expert woodworking hands. Judy assembles, paints, and adds those finishing touches that transform simple pieces of wood into treasures children cherish year-round.

But the magic of this labor of love relies on a sprinkle of generosity, too. While Mike tirelessly seeks scrap wood donations from local woodworking clubs and friendly construction sites, the couple covers the costs of paints, brushes, stencils, wheels, dolls, stuffed animals, and more from their modest retirement funds.

Mike and Judy dream of brightening even more little faces this Christmas season. But they need your help. Every donation received will directly fund essential materials, ensuring every child in our community can experience the simple yet profound joy of receiving a handcrafted wooden toy.

Join us in fueling Mike and Judy’s magical toy-making mission—let’s keep the spirit of Christmas kindness alive in the Coachella Valley, one lovingly crafted toy at a time!

 Click for the GoFund account to help them reach their dream!